In the
Wu-Tang Manual Volume 1, RZA writes an entire chapter about Chess.RZA has appeared in movies (Coffee
and Cigarettes, Ghost Dog) and in skits on Chappelle's Show,
and has composed music for films such as Kill Bill and Afro-Samurai.
RZA is increasing the attention he gives to chess, and not only on his albums. He is working with Josh Waitzkin to improve his game, and he is also one of the Hip Hop Chess Federation's most active particiapnts. On a recent Tuesday, this interview with him was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. RZA
had just returned to New York from Europe, with the master copy of the new
Wu-Tang album, 8 Diagrams, in his hands. RZA's assistant got on the
phone at 4:10. "RZA is still talking to the lawyers. Can we push it
back?" The album was born purely of creative hunger, with no label
advance. The tracks were all done, but the man was still trying to broker a
record deal. At 5:30 the phone rang.

RZA: Yo, what's up?

Jason Handelsman (JH)-Thank you so much,
RZA. Miami loves Wu-Tang.

RZA-Respect!

JH-Our area code is
305. Three plus zero plus five ...

RZA-That eight, baby.

JH-The title of the
new album is
8 Diagrams?

RZA- Yep. It is an ode to
hip-hop. Hip-hop could use my services right now.

The name 8
Diagrams comes from a classic kung fu film. But I have also been studying
the I Ching. It is an ancient way of predicting the future. I Ching is about
change, and it contains eight diagrams. Each diagram represents the way the
stars are, the way life is, the destiny of a person, the destiny of a nation,
and the destiny of our planet. The ancient Chinese used it over 4000 years ago
to predict and calculate harvests, good times, bad times. The right time to do
this, and the right time to do that. Each diagram represents a Wu-Tang member
and the position that we play.

It is time for a
change in hip-hop. We look forward to ushering in a new change with this album.
Nothing happens by chance or coincidence. It's actually based on experience. Everything
in the universe travels in a circle. The Earth goes in the same circle every
year; you understand ... there are small circles and big circles. I use the
I-Ching to stay in tune with things.

There are eight
points of the sun. In my lyrics I say, "I am the seven in the center of
the eight-pointed sun." I see myself as the abbot, the center of Wu-Tang.
The eight points are the Wu-Tang members that shine out in all directions. We
are like each point of that sun.

JH-In the Wu-Tang Manual Volume 1, you discuss
chess as a game and its role in the Wu-Tang philosophy. As a chess player
and a Wu-Tang fan. I have always wanted to see the algebraic notations of some
of your best games.

There's a few grandmasters
involved with it. Josh Waitzkin, the subject of that movie, Searching For Bobby Fischer...is a buddy
of mine now. He's helping me improve my game. There is Maurice Ashley, of
course. He came to the studio while we were doing the album actually and busted
everybody's ass (laughter). At the same time, he actually came there to measure
our strength. He thinks that some Wu-Tang members...me, GZA and Masta Killa are
at tournament level now. We didn't have no real chess training, our ratings
would probably be around 13...1400. Not bad though, you know?

JH- Not bad at all...The
Chess Hall of Fame is in Miami.

RZA-Oh really? I didn't know that.

JH-They have the table
that Bobby Fischer played Spassky on...

RZA-Whoa. I almost had the chance to meet Bobby Fischer. But, I
didn't have the time though. He lives in Iceland, and we were gonna hook up. I
actually chose to go to the Blue Lagoon instead (laughter). I made a bad
decision after all. I just couldn't resist those women in the Blue Lagoon
(laughter)... I would've liked to talk to Bobby Fischer.
JH-
So is there a Volume 2
coming out?

RZA-Yeah, Wu-Tang Manual Volume 2, the Book of Wisdom.

JH-What are some of the
subjects?

RZA-Aw, man.

JH-Wu-Tang diet?

RZA-(Laughter) Nah....It is going to spread knowledge. It will be
more in-depth and less autobiographical.

JH-I know you were
supposed to do the soundtrack for Miami Vice...
RZA-Yeah that got cancelled.

JH-Any new film music in
the future?

RZA-Yeah, definitely always on film music. The one that's out
right now, Afro-Samurai....the DVD is
out. You gotta definitely get yourself a copy of that. That shit is hot. I'm
talking with a couple of directors about scoring for future movies, but my main
focus has been on hip-hop for this year. I was in Hollywood for a minute, got
into that world. I acted in some movies, scored a few movies. But I realized that hip-hop could use my
services right now.

JH-Yeah.

RZA- The 8 Diagrams also
relates to chess. The 8 columns lined up, create 64 squares. That still relates
to the I-Ching, which has 64 hexagrams. That same 64 deals with life itself. If
you take 64, that's the year that Mathematics was brought to the surface for
the Nation, you know what I mean?64 is
also...when you first have sex with a woman and you fertilize the egg it goes
through the mitosis and meiosis process. It actually forms 64 cells before it
becomes one embryonic cell. They just split and split and split.So, the I-Ching, chess board, life
itself....its on that eight.Eight is the
number of infinity. You know, we always say Wu-Tang is forever. Here comes that
eight again. This new album definitely has a mathematical meaning to it. The
energy of it is beautiful. I wanna say one thing for you to write: Wu-Tang
recorded this album without one dollar being paid to any member. That's a big
thing, it goes back to the first album. It means that this album was made for
real. This album is made with the real Wu-Tang spirit. There hasn't been an
album made like this in a while, because we always got paid up front to do our
shit. We took it back to the bottom where it didn't take money for us to put
our hip-hop into it.
Portions of
this article were originally published in the Miami Times. RZA wiill play on October 13 in San Francisco in the Hip Hop Chess Federation's 1st King's Invitational. The belt below is at stake!

Photo Me'ko Gaborski

For more information, check out the flyer below as well as the HHCF's myspace page.

Here is a video of a panel discussion from the Hip Hop Chess Federation's last event on May 19. It features RZA, HHCF founder Adisa Banjoko and Josh Waitzkin.